Rotatable and extensible elbow

ABSTRACT

A mobile aerial tower comprised of a mobile platform having a boom with an extensible section and a personnel-carrying platform or bucket mounted on an auxiliary elbow section which is pivoted on a bracket through various types of motive means and with the provisions for mounting the bracket selectively at either the end of the main boom section or the extensible portion of the same. The elbow section is also extendable to vary the length of the same.

United States Patent Reske et al.

[ 51 Sept. 12, 1972 ROTATABLE AND EXTENSIBLE ELBOW [72] Inventors:Albert E. Reske, Minneapolis; Orlo J. Johnson, Lakeville, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Tel-E-Lect, Inc., South Min neapolis, Mich.

[22] Filed: May 8, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 35,849

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.3,944, Jan. 19,

[52] US. Cl ..182ll41, 182/2 [51] Int. Cl. ..B66t 11/04 [58] Field ofSearch ..l82/2, 141

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Eckels ..l82/l4l 3,149,6949/1964 Smithee I 82/2 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. MachadoAttorney-Schroeder, Siegfried & Ryan 57] ABSTRACT A mobile aerial towercomprised of a mobile platform having a boom with an extensible sectionand a personnel-carrying platform or bucket mounted on an auxiliaryelbow section which is pivoted on a bracket through various types ofmotive means and with the provisions for mounting the bracketselectively at either the end of the main boom section or the extensibleportion of the same. The elbow section is also extendable to vary thelength of the same.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 12 m2 SHEET 1 [1F 2 ROTATABLEAND EXTENSIBLE ELBOW This application is a continuation-in-part of ourapplication, Ser. No. 3,944, filed .Ian. 19, 1970 and entitled ROTATABLEAND EXTENSIBLE ELBOW". It is being filed for the purpose of expanding ona portion of the disclosure relating to the mounting which would be thetransferable mounting of the rotatable elbow which is disclosed andclaimed in that application.

My invention relates to mobile aerial towers having a work platform orpersonnel-carrying bucket thereon, and more particularly to apparatus ofthis type in which the bucket is mounted on a rotatable elbow which isselectively carried by a boom or an extension of the same in the aerialtower.

Mobile aerial towers which have work platforms or personnel-carryingbuckets, and which are articulated are known and in use. In suchstructures the personnel basket may be positioned in any orientation ina generally horizontal plane or through a full 360 degrees of azimuthrotation, but the basket or platform is carried on the end of a singlepivoted arm of fixed length to restrict its range of articulation.Further the tower with a basket thereon is normally restricted in itsusage solely for positioning the work platform, and no portion of thetower may be utilized for any other function. Thus, other vehicles arerequired to support tools or work to be used by personnel on theplatform.

In the improved mobile aerial tower of the present invention, thepersonnel-carrying basket or work platform, is mounted on an elbowmember which may be moved independently of the boom throughout a planeof rotation which is offset from the longitudinal extent of the boom,and in addition, the tower member supporting the work platform orpersonnel basket is carried by a mounting bracket which may be connectedeither at the end of the boom, or selectively at a telescopic extensionof the same and when carried by the boom itself, permits extension andusage of the boom extension for other purposes. Thus, for example, thepersonnel-carrying basket may be positioned at the end of the boom whilethe slidable extension within the boom may be extended and utilized forsupporting wires or raising the same in telephone and power work;thereby permitting workers to be positioned adjacent the same, but clearof the end of the extension, so that they may perform a work functionwithout the danger of electric hazard. Thus, in my improved invention,the elbow member mounting the personnel-carrying basket or work platformmay be selectively positioned at varying points along an aerial towerand its supporting elbow member extended in length to position the samein any desired location with respect to the end of the tower. The end ofthe tower or boom is further extendable rather than articulated from amobile platform, and portions of the same may be utilized for differentpurposes, as for example, carrying some type of tool brace or equivalentto be used by the workers eliminating the requirement of separate towersof similar equipment.

Therefore it is the principal object of this invention to provide amobile aerial tower in which a work platform may be selectivelypositioned at varying positions along the extent of the tower.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a mobile tower a boomformed of a main and an auxiliary extensible section with a workplatform connected to a rotatable support which may be positionedselectively at the end of the extensible section, or at the end of themain boom section.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a mobile aerialtower this type of an arrangement for mounting a work platform on anauxiliary section of an extensible boom for rotational movement and withprovisions for extending the auxiliary section.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mobile tower structurehaving a personnel-carrying bucket which may be adjustably mounted onthe tower boom adjacent the end thereof, or adjacent the end ofintermediate section thereof.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from areading of the attached description together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile aerial tower embodying ourinvention with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the mobile aerial tower of FIG. 1 with partsbroken away;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation view of a portion of the mobileaerial platform showing the elbow member which supports the platform ina stored condition of operation;

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation view of FIG. 2 with the supporting elbowin a second condition of operation;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a portion of the mobile aerial platformshowing an alternate embodiment of the mounting of the platform orbucket supporting elbow;

FIG. 6 is a schematic front end elevation view of the structure shown inFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a modification of the basket supportingelbow member of FIGS. 5 and 6 showing the extensible portion of the samein one condition of operation; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic elevation view of the structure of FIG. 7 shown ina second condition of operation.

Our invention in a mobile aerial platform with rotatable elbow is shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 in connection with a boom structure which is normallymounted on a turntable and fixed to and carried by a conventional truckchassis. The boom structure is indicated generally at 10 and a portionof the chassis, shown broken away, is indicated generally at 12 as thetype of equipment which normally supports and mounts such structure.Such units are normally self-contained in that they provide a powersource for a hydraulic pumping system to operate actuators and controlsincorporated into the boom structure of the tower and for the purpose oforienting the tower through motors positioned on the chassis. Thedetails of this structure form no part of the present invention and areeliminated for simplicity. Such a structure will normally provide asupporting frame 13 on the chassis 12 supporting a turntable or platform14 upon which the main boom element 16 is mounted. The platform 14 willnormally be driven or rotated in azimuth about a vertical axis through 360 rotation through drive means (not shown). In addition, the main boomstructure 16 is oriented or pivoted in a vertical plane relative to theturntable through actuators indicated generally at 18. Such structure islargely conventional and may vary in form. Many of the present daymobile aerial towers use a second boom element pivoted off of the freeextremity of the first boom element and with a similar pair of linearactuators for elevating the same provide a scissors type extension. Suchstructures normally carry only the platform or personnel-carrying bucketat the free extremity of the second boom structure.

As will be seen in FIG. 1, the mobile aerial tower of the presentinvention incorporates a second boom member or extension telescopicallymounted or fitted into the first or main boom structure 16 which isextended and retracted relative to the first boom structure to lengthenthe same through the use of an externally mounted linear actuator 22whose cylinder is connected to the first boom structure and carriedthereby and whose operating shaft 24 is connected to the telescopicelement 20 to provide telescopic movement of the same. In addition, theoverall boom structure may incorporate a third telescopic elementslidably mounted in the second telescopic element and extended andretracted by means of an internal motive means (not shown) for thepurpose of increasing the length of the overall boom. This third boomstructure is normally of a dielectric type and may incorporate a winch,such as is indicated at 35, or other work performing tool at the end ofthe same for the purpose of performing a separate work function beyondthe support and movement of a personnel-carrying platform or bucket.

' The personnel-carrying platform or bucket, depending upon which isused, is indicated generally at 50 in FIG. 1 is a part of the mobileaerial tower. In FIG. 1 it is disclosed as a bucket which is supportedby an elbow member 60 pivotally mounted on a supporting and mountingbracket 70. The supporting and mounting bracket 70 is a sleeve typestructure which is carried on the extensible boom element or telescopicelement 20 and includes journal means 69 therein allowing the boomelement to move relative thereto, for purposes to be later noted. Thebracket includes flange structures 71', 72 at the extremities of thesame by means of which pin connections may couple the same to the mainboom element 16 or the extensible boom element 20, depending upon whichis to carry the same. Thus, as will be shown in FIG. 1, the flanges 71,72 have apertures therein through which pins 73 may be inserted tocouple the sleeve type bracket structure to either the end of the boomelement 16 in an aperture 74 therein or to the end of the extensibleelement 20 at an aperture 75 therein. Such a transfer will be made whenthe tower is collapsed and in a normal stored position with theextensible element retracted. The bracket support structure will becarried by the extensible element 20 and depending upon the placement ofthe pin may be coupled to the end of the boom allowing movement of theextensible element for forward purposes or may be pinned to the end ofthe extensible element and moved therewith with boom extension andretraction. Support mounting bracket apart from the sleeve structure,indicated generally at 78, includes a pivotal mounting structure for theelbow member the details of which will be set forth in the embodimentshown in FIGS. 3 through 8 to be hereinafter described. The elbow memberis mounted on the support mounting bracket for rotation in a planeoffset from the longitudinal extent of the boom element. For simplicity,only portions of the boom or extensible element shown and parts of thesame will be removed for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure, itwill be understood, however, that the bracket support structure may becarried in either position with the elbow and its rotative structure andextensible structure, to be hereinafter described functioning in thesame manner. It will also be recognized that control lines and powerlines to the actuators and controllers operating on the motors of theelbow member and mounted thereon will be flexible and extensible toaccommodate for this change in location of the bracket mountingstructure between the boom elements of the mobile aerial tower and forvarying positions of move ment of the elbow and platform connectedthereto.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown one version of the mounting of theelbowsupporting the platform or bucket. This structure is shown schematicallyand with boom parts broken away or removed for simplicity to disclosethe relationship of the key parts. Thus, as will be seen in FIG. 3, theboom 16 at the extremity thereof will mount the elbow support structureor bracket which carry the elbow 60 and orients the same about arotational axis. It will be understood, however, that the mountingbracket may be carried by and connected to the first extensible elementof the boom 20 through a manual mounting of the support 70 or connectionwith a pin thereon. In FIG. 3, the support structure positions andcarries a linear actuator whose cylinder, shown schematically at 80, isattached to the support structure through means (not shown) with itsactuating shaft with extension 82 being journaled in support brackets 83mounted on the support structure 70 and carrying at its free extremity arack 85 which is connected thereto. The rack cooperates with a piniongear 88 attached to the extremity of the elbow 60 with the pinion gearand the elbow being journaled on the mounting bracket through a pivotmember 90. Extension and retraction of the actuating shaft 82 of theactuator will move the rack relative to the journaled pinion gear 88 torotate the elbow from a stored position as in FIG. 3 through a limitedangle of rotation, such as is indicated at FIG. 4, with such movementtaking place in a vertical plane. Although not shown, it will beunderstood that the platform or bucket will be mounted at the extremityof the elbow through a pivoted journal member, as is shown in FIGS. 5and 6, such that it will pivot thereon and maintain its verticalorientation for proper positioning of the occupant thereon. It will alsobe recognized that suitable controls may be positioned at the end of theelbow and in proximity to the platform or bucket for operation by anoperator. The control lines (not shown) are flexible to allow forpivotal movement of the elbow and to permit orientation of the platformor bucket throughout a limited range of rotative movement. For example,a range of 250 degrees, depending upon the length of the rack andactuator travel, is provided to orient the platform through a wide arefor maneuverability and positioning of the occupants in the platform orbucket at the end of the elbow.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the support structure orbracket mounting and elbow construction which permit continuous rotationof the elbow member and hence, the personnel-carrying plat form orbucket at the end of the same through 360 rotation and greater and ineither direction of rotation. Thus, as will be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6,the main boom element 16 mounts the elbow supporting structure orbracket, shown herein at 100. The boom extensions 20 and 30 are removedfor simplicity of disclosure but it will be understood that the bracketmay be connected by extension 20. In this embodiment, the elbowsupporting bracket mounts a reversible rotary motor 102 having a spiroidgear 104 at the end of its output shaft 105. The elbow member 60 mountsat its joumaled extremity an annular spiroid gear 110 and a suitabletranslationally extending shaft which is joumaled in the end of thesupport structure or bracket 100 through bearings, such as is indicatedat 112. The platform or bucket 50, as is shown in FIG. 5, is pivotallymounted at the opposite extremity of the elbow member, as at 120 througha transversely extending shaft to be rotatable relative thereto andsuitable control means, such as is indicated at 140, are mounted on theend of the elbow member to be accessible to an occupant of the basket.In this embodiment, continuous rotation in either direction of the elbowmember relative to the support structure or bracket and the boomstructure upon which the latter is mounted is provided enabling theoccupant to position himself relative to an inclined boom structure atany angle with respect thereto and to approach the work at the end ofthe boom from either direction. FIG. 6 shows the structure from thefront and with parts removed and it will be understood that the bearingand journal structure 112 will include a rotatable channel block orconnectorto permit continuous rotation of the elbow with respect to thesupporting bracket 100 and provide coupling of the controls or thecontrol lines through conventional rotary coupling apparatus (not shown)relative through the universal or continuous pivotal connection.

The embodiment of the structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 relates to atelescopic section of the elbow which structure may be utilized tolengthen or contract the extent of the elbow member relative to itspivotal connection and is applicable to either of the embodiments shownin FIGS. 3 and 4 or 5 and 6. In-FIG. 7, it is applied for simplicity tothe 360 rotatable pivot structure or mounting for the elbow. Thus, themounting bracket 100 is carried by either the main boom 16 or its firstextensible element 20 and the rotary motor 102 drives a spiroid gear 104to cooperate with a spiroid gear 110 which is mounted on the innertelescopic part 150 of a pair of telescopic parts, the outer of which isindicated at 160 forming the composite elbow member. An internallymounted actuator, such as is indicated in phantom at 170, and comprisedof a cylinder 172 and shaft 173 are connected respectively to thetelescopic parts for the purpose of retracting and extending the samewith operation of the actuator in a conventional manner. In thisembodiment,the basket or platform 50, shown herein as a basket, ispivotally mounted at the free extremity of the outer telescopic part160, as indicated at 175 and the control lines such as indicated by thecontrol handles 176 are similarly mounted in the outer telescopic partand extend through the inner telescopic part 150 through a suitablerotatable connector in the pivot structure on the pivot structure 112 toprovide an electrical connection thereto. The pivot structure will alsoinclude, although not shown, a suitable fluid rotatable coupling for thefluid lines directed to either end of the actuator 170, for the purposeof operating the same. Such fluid lines will extend along and beconnected to the source through suitable flexible fluid lines toaccommodate the transfer of the support structure or bracket from theboom structure to the first extensible element 20. FIG. 8 shows theelbow formed by the telescopic parts 150, extended which structure willprovide a further adjustment or positioning for the occupant of thebasket relative to the main boom structure and any tool carried b theextent of the same.

Our improved mobile aerial tower combines with the conventionaltelescopic boom structure and elbow support for a personnel-carryingplatform or basket which is mounted for continuous or limited rotationthrough suitable journaling and drive means to enable the occupant oruser to position the platform or bucket relative to the boom structureand away from the, same for the purpose of performing various workfunctions. The elbow structure is also telescopic to enable the lengthof the same to be changed for a wider range of positioning control forthe purpose of performing various work functions. In addition, themounting structure for the rotatable elbow is adapted to be selectivelyconnected to various portions of the boom structure such that it may bepositioned along the extent of the boom structure and enable a finalsection of the boom structure to carry some other working tool forperforming an additional work function for greater versatility in amobile aerial tower. The operator may position the elbow member, andhence himself, in any position relative to the work at the end of theboom and may approach the work from any direction of rotation. Further,he may lower the elbow member to the vehicle or ground without changingthe boom position or the work thereon.

What is claimed is:

l. A mobile aerial tower comprising, a mobile platform, an articulatedboom mounted on the platform, a slidable boom extension telescopicallymounted in the articulated boom and including motive means for extendingand retracting the same, an elbow member, bracket means slidably mountedon said boom extension and pivotally mounting the elbow member on theboom extension, power means mounted on the bracket means and connectedto the elbow member pivoting the same on the bracket means, means onsaid bracket means for preventing free movement of said bracket means,and a personnel-carrying basket joumaled at the free end of the elbowmember.

2. The mobile aerial tower of claim 1 in which the power means pivotingthe elbow member on the bracket means pivots the same for limitedrotation.

3. The mobile aerial tower of claim 1 in which the power means pivotingthe elbow member on the bracket means pivots the elbow member forunrestricted rotation.

4. A mobile aerial tower comprising, a mobile platform, an articulatedboom mounted on the platform, a slidable boom extension telescopicallymounted in the articulated boom and including motive means for extendingand retracting the same, an elbow member, bracket means pivotallymounting the elbow member on the boom extension, power means mounted onthe bracket means and connected to the elbow member pivoting the same onthe bracket means, and a personnel-carrying basket journaled at the freeend of the elbow, said power means pivoting the elbow member on thebracket means for unrestricted rotation including a spiroid gear androtary motor with cooperative gearing on the elbow member to provide 360rotation of the elbow member relative to the bracket means.

5. The mobile aerial tower of claim 2 in which the power means on thebracket means and pivoting the elbow member thereon includes a linearhydraulic actuator operating a rack type gearing and cooperative with apinion gear mounted on the elbow means for restricted rotationalmovement of the elbow member relative to the bracket means.

6. The mobile aerial tower of claim 1 in which the elbow member includesa pair of slidable parts permitting longitudinal extension andretraction of the elbow member relative to the bracket means.

7. The mobile aerial tower of claim 6 and including motive meansconnected between the slidable parts and the elbow member to slidablyextend and retract the elbow member and the personnel-carrying supportthereon relative to the bracket means.

8. The mobile aerial tower of claim 1 in which the means preventing freemovement of the bracket means includes means releasably connecting thebracket means selectively to the free extremity of the articulated boomand the extremity of the slidable boom extension positioned therein.

9. The mobile aerial tower of claim 8 in which the bracket means isslidably mounted on the boom extension and movable between the extremityof the articulated boom and the extremity of the boom extension forselectively positioning thereon.

10. The mobile aerial tower of claim 8 in which the means preventingfree movement of the bracket means includes securing means positioned inpart on the bracket means and in part on the slidable boom extension andthe articulated boom for selectively locking the bracket means on thearticulated boom and the slidable boom extension therein.

11. A mobile aerial tower comprising, a mobile platform, an articulatedboom member mounted on the platform, a slidable boom extension membertelescopically mounted in the articulated boom member and includingmotive means for extending and retracting the same, an elbow member,bracket means slidably mounted on one of said members and pivotallymounting the elbow member, power means mounted on the bracket means andconnected to the elbow member pivoting the same on said bracket means,means on said bracket means for preventing free movement of said bracketmeans on said one of said members, and a personnel-carrying basketjournaled at the free end of the elbow member.

12. The mobile aerial tower of claim 11 and including means included inthe elbow member to slidably extend and retract the same for alteringthe position of the personnel-carrying means at the end of the elbowmember relative to the support bracket means.

1. A mobile aerial tower comprising, a mobile platform, an articulated boom mounted on the platform, a slidable boom extension telescopically mounted in the articulated boom and includiNg motive means for extending and retracting the same, an elbow member, bracket means slidably mounted on said boom extension and pivotally mounting the elbow member on the boom extension, power means mounted on the bracket means and connected to the elbow member pivoting the same on the bracket means, means on said bracket means for preventing free movement of said bracket means, and a personnel-carrying basket journaled at the free end of the elbow member.
 2. The mobile aerial tower of claim 1 in which the power means pivoting the elbow member on the bracket means pivots the same for limited rotation.
 3. The mobile aerial tower of claim 1 in which the power means pivoting the elbow member on the bracket means pivots the elbow member for unrestricted rotation.
 4. A mobile aerial tower comprising, a mobile platform, an articulated boom mounted on the platform, a slidable boom extension telescopically mounted in the articulated boom and including motive means for extending and retracting the same, an elbow member, bracket means pivotally mounting the elbow member on the boom extension, power means mounted on the bracket means and connected to the elbow member pivoting the same on the bracket means, and a personnel-carrying basket journaled at the free end of the elbow, said power means pivoting the elbow member on the bracket means for unrestricted rotation including a spiroid gear and rotary motor with cooperative gearing on the elbow member to provide 360* rotation of the elbow member relative to the bracket means.
 5. The mobile aerial tower of claim 2 in which the power means on the bracket means and pivoting the elbow member thereon includes a linear hydraulic actuator operating a rack type gearing and cooperative with a pinion gear mounted on the elbow means for restricted rotational movement of the elbow member relative to the bracket means.
 6. The mobile aerial tower of claim 1 in which the elbow member includes a pair of slidable parts permitting longitudinal extension and retraction of the elbow member relative to the bracket means.
 7. The mobile aerial tower of claim 6 and including motive means connected between the slidable parts and the elbow member to slidably extend and retract the elbow member and the personnel-carrying support thereon relative to the bracket means.
 8. The mobile aerial tower of claim 1 in which the means preventing free movement of the bracket means includes means releasably connecting the bracket means selectively to the free extremity of the articulated boom and the extremity of the slidable boom extension positioned therein.
 9. The mobile aerial tower of claim 8 in which the bracket means is slidably mounted on the boom extension and movable between the extremity of the articulated boom and the extremity of the boom extension for selectively positioning thereon.
 10. The mobile aerial tower of claim 8 in which the means preventing free movement of the bracket means includes securing means positioned in part on the bracket means and in part on the slidable boom extension and the articulated boom for selectively locking the bracket means on the articulated boom and the slidable boom extension therein.
 11. A mobile aerial tower comprising, a mobile platform, an articulated boom member mounted on the platform, a slidable boom extension member telescopically mounted in the articulated boom member and including motive means for extending and retracting the same, an elbow member, bracket means slidably mounted on one of said members and pivotally mounting the elbow member, power means mounted on the bracket means and connected to the elbow member pivoting the same on said bracket means, means on said bracket means for preventing free movement of said bracket means on said one of said members, and a personnel-carrying basket journaled at the free end of the elbow member.
 12. The mobile aerial tower of claim 11 and including means included in the elbow member to slidably extend and retract the same for altering tHe position of the personnel-carrying means at the end of the elbow member relative to the support bracket means. 